Improvement in centrifugal guns



. '2 Sheets-Sheet EATQN & TURNER.

Machine Gun.

Patented Dec. 16; 1862.

@m' g; J WW Witnesses.

NPETHS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D c.

v v 2 S.he;ts'Sheet 2.. hATON & TURNER,

Machine Gun.

PaLenIed Dec. 16. 1862.

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inventor.

Witnesses.

NJETERS, FHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GILBERT G. EATON AND SAML. W. TURNER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN CENTRIFUGAL GUNS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 37,159, dated December16, 1862.

To all when it may concern:

Be it known that we, GILBERT C. EATON and SAMUEL W. TURNER, ofCleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have inventednew and useful Improvements in an Engine which we denominate a CompoundCentrifugal Gun and we do hereby declare that the following is a fulland complete description of the construction and operation of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of thisspecification, in which- Figure 1 is a top view. Fig. 2 is a verticalsection in the direction of the line aw in Fig. 3, and Fig. 3 is a sideview. Figs. 4 to 17, inclusive, are detached sections.

Like letters refer to like parts.

The nature of our invention relates to the construction of an engine bymeans of which balls of various sizes may be discharged with greatrapidity, velocity,and precision by compound centrifugal force alone,the balls being introduced between two grooved arms, which revolve withgreat velocity and unitedly form what we denominate the barrel, theseveral parts being so constructed and arranged that any desiredaltitude or range can be given to the projectile.

A A represent the end pieces of the framework, and B B thesupporting-bars. Both the end pieces and bars must be made verysubstantial and be firmly secured together.

G is a driving-wheel secured to the middle of the shaft G, which has itshearings in the end pieces, A A. The power may be applied by means of acrank, D, upon the end of the shaft, or otherwise. The wheel 0 gearsinto a small pinion, E, which is situated upon the lower end of anupright shaft, E, which runs upon the point or step F. The shaft Epassesthrough the center of a circular faceplate, G, which is firmly securedto the supporting-bar B. The shaft E also passes through anadjusting-plate, G, which rests upon the plate The plate G is adjustedto any desired point of the compass, as indicated by the red lines inFig. 1, by means of an adjustingscrew, H, which works in the edge of theplate G. The point F, upon which the shaft E runs, is Supported by astirrup, I, which is attached to the lower side of the plate G, theupper end of tree, I, which is in like manner secured to the 7 upperside of the traverse-plate or turntable GI J is a multiplying bevel-gearwheel secured to the upper portion of the shaft 'E, and gears into thepinion J, which pinion has its support from the upper side of thetraverse-plate or turn-table G, as seen at K K. Upon the shaft K issecured a multiplying-wheel, L, which gears into the pinion L.

M M is an adjustable frame, which supports the revolving grooved armshereinafter to be described, upon the uuder side of which is situatedthe pinion L. The frame M M is supported at one end by an articulationupon the shaft K, and at the other end by a correspondingarticulation,K, so that it can be adjusted to any desired angle withinthe limits of the lines a a b b in Fig. 2. The upper section of thisframe M M is supported bya pivot or point, N, which passes through theupper piece of the frame-work B on a line vertical to the point of thestep F. The point of the pivot-screw N sets into a circular plate, 0,Figs. 1 and 3, from each side of'which is a stud, O, for the support ofa screw, P. This screw P works in a segmental gear, P, by means of whichthe frame M M can be set at any angle within the limits of the lines a abb in Fig. 2, the axis K K forming the point of articulation. Abovethescrew-gear P is placed segmental arms Q, which work in ways, and thusthe parts are kept firm and steady. The shaftR of the pinion L passesupward through the framepiece M and terminates above M in the hopper R,the shaft being hollow down to the part seen at R in Fig. 3.

Vis a shaft corresponding in position to that seen at R. It is nothollow, and is not provideckwith a hopper, as is the shaft R. Upon eachof these shafts is secured spur-gear wheels S S, which gear into eachother, and having the same number of teeth, it follows that both shaftsR and V have the same velocity.

To the shaft It is secured a grooved arm, T, (shown detached in Fig. 4,and in section enlarged in Figs. 12, 13, 14.) The hollow shaft R passesthrough a hollow screw, 3, which is fastened to the under side of thepiece M at M, as shown in Fig. 3. The screw R is thus stationary, whilethe arm T rotates within the hollow shalt R. The two ends of the armbeing duplicates of each other, a description of one end will serve forboth.

cisasmallpinion having twelve teeth, which fitthe stationaryscrewlt.Thispinioncbeing attached to the arm T, it follows that twelverevolutions of the shaft It and arm T will produce one revolution of thepinion c.

d is a connecting-rod, that is attached to the sliding plate 0, which isprovided with a right angled slot, 6. This plate 0 covers the cavity f,Fig. 14,in the arm T.

Figs. 15 andv 16 show detached a sliding stop, which is placed in thecavity f, Fig. 14. This step is shown in place at g h in Figs. 12 and13. When the arm T is in rapid motion the centrifugal force keeps themin p0.- sit-ion seen in Fig. 12. Now, if a ball, i, is placed in thehopper B, it will by its gravity fall through the hollow shaft R till itis arrested by the cavity in the arm T, which, by its centrifugal force,carries it onward till it lodges in the throat of the stop 9 h, Fig. 12;but the action of the screw 3 upon the pinion 0 is changing the positionof the stop 9 h by means of its action upon the sliding plate efrom theposition seen in Fig.12 to that shown in Fig. 13. When the pin m entersthe angle of the slot 6 the centrifugal force of the ball moves back thestop It to the position seen in Fig. 13, and the ball 41 passes out inthe direction of the arrow into the groove of the arm; but it is againarrested by a pair of clutches, 19, (shown in Fig. 4.) In the act ofdrawing up the stop It so that the ball can pass, as seen in Fig. 13,the stop 9 is also drawn up, so that the passage between the points itand n is too narrow for the passage of the ball, and the next succeedingball (or a series of them) remains as seen in Fig. 13 until the pinion cperformsanother complete revolution, for as soon as the ball passes thestop h the stop falls back into the position seen in Fig. 12, andprevents the outward passage of the ball until the pinion c completesits revolution, pending which the stop gmoves back to the position seenin Fig. 12. It follows, therefore, that if the two pinions c c are setor adjusted in opposition to each other every six revolutions of the armT will pass a ball through one or the other of the stops, and if theadjustment is equal the intervals of the passage of the balls will beequal. From the position of the clutch p the arm is grooved upon theunder side to the end, as seen at r in Figs. 2, 3, and 17, along whichthe ball is carried in the act of being discharged.

T is an arm secured tothe shaftof the coggear S, with the groove 75 uponthe upper side,

.so that in their joint revolution both of the arms act simultaneouslyupon the ball to effect its discharge the instant it is released fromthe clutch 19.

Upon each end of the arm T is a weighted lever, 12, which has itsfulcrum at q, Figs. 1 and 4. (Shown also in section in Fig. 9.) When thearm is in rapid motion the centrifugal force acts upon the weight 19, inconcert with its gravity, to keep the lever in the position shown inFig. 9, the long arm pressing against the upper ends of the clutches p,as seen at a, Fig. 9. The consequence is that the weight ofthe ball isnot suficient to separate the clutches as long as they are kept inposition by the weighted lever 19. We have provided means for raisingthis lever at certain intervals corresponding with the passage of theballs through the stops 9 h. For this purpose the shaft V is providedwith a screw, V, having the same lead as the screw R, which screw putsin motion a pinion, V, and this pinion carries on its shaft the cam W,which moves at every entire revolution an inclined plane, W, toward theweighted lever 19 and lifts it from the position seen in Fig. 9 to thatseen in Fig. 11, thus leaving the clutches 19 free to act from theimpulse of the ball z, and the clutches, being thus left free to act,instantly release their hold upon the ball. The ball, being in thismanner set free, is carried outward in the grooves r t of the arms bytheir compound action, and is discharged at r in Figs. 1 and 3.

What we claim as our improvement, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is

1. The stirrup I and bridge-tree I, in combination with the plate G andturn-table G, arranged as specified, for the purpose of givinghorizontal range to the ball.

2. The turn-table G, in combination with the articulation K K, for thepurpose set forth.

3. The frame M M, in combination with the articulation K K. for givingaltitude to the projectile, as specified.

4. The arms T T, operating in concert within the frame M M, for thepurpose specified.

5. The stops 9 h, operated as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The clutches p and weighted lever 12, in combination with the cam W,arranged and operating as and for the purpose specified.

GILBERT C. EATON. S. W. TURNER.

Witnesses:

J. BRAINERD, A. W. MCCLELLAN.

